When you want to serve something at your holiday gathering that’s both adorable and absolutely delicious, these Christmas Tree Pesto Breadsticks are guaranteed to steal the show with their festive shape and incredible flavor. Imagine soft, buttery breadsticks twisted into the shape of Christmas trees, brushed with vibrant green pesto, and decorated with colorful vegetables and cheese that look like ornaments and garlands. These aren’t just cute, they’re seriously tasty with aromatic basil pesto, garlic butter, and melted mozzarella creating layers of Italian-inspired flavor in every bite. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, bringing an appetizer to a potluck, or looking for a fun baking project to do with kids, these breadsticks deliver on both presentation and taste. The best part is that despite looking incredibly impressive and intricate, they’re actually quite simple to make using store-bought pizza dough as a shortcut. They photograph beautifully, disappear quickly, and always get rave reviews.
Serving Quantity: 6 servings (6 tree breadsticks)
Cooking Time: 35 minutes (20 minutes prep, 15 minutes baking)
Nutritional Information per serving:
1. Calories: 385
2. Protein: 14g
3. Carbohydrates: 42g
4. Fat: 18g
5. Fiber: 2g
6. Sugar: 3g
7. Sodium: 685mg
Ingredients You Need:
For the Breadsticks:
1. 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade), at room temperature
2. 1/4 cup basil pesto
3. 3 tablespoons butter, melted
4. 2 garlic cloves, minced
5. 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
6. 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
7. Flour for dusting
For Decorations:
8. Cherry tomatoes, halved
9. Yellow bell pepper, cut into small star shapes or pieces
10. Red bell pepper, diced small
11. Fresh basil leaves
12. Olives, sliced (optional)
13. 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
For Serving:
14. Marinara sauce for dipping
15. Extra pesto for dipping
16. Fresh herbs for garnish
Prepare the Dough
Remove the pizza dough from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you plan to use it, allowing it to come to room temperature. This makes it much easier to work with and prevents it from shrinking back when you shape it. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Roll Out the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Divide the pizza dough into 6 equal portions. Take one portion and roll it out into a triangle shape, approximately 8 inches tall and 6 inches wide at the base. The triangle doesn’t need to be perfect, in fact, rustic shapes look more like real Christmas trees. The dough should be about a quarter inch thick. Repeat with the remaining portions.
Add Pesto Layer
Spread about 2 teaspoons of basil pesto over the entire surface of each dough triangle, leaving a small border around the edges. Use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly. The pesto provides flavor and that beautiful green color that makes these look like evergreen trees. Don’t use too much or it will make the dough soggy and difficult to work with.
Add Cheese
Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese over the pesto on each triangle, distributing it evenly. The cheese will melt during baking and create delicious pockets of gooey goodness throughout the breadsticks. Leave the edges clear so you can seal the dough properly.
Create Tree Shape
Starting from one of the bottom corners of the triangle, make small cuts along one side, about 1 inch apart, cutting about halfway toward the center. Repeat on the other side, creating matching cuts. These cuts will become the “branches” of your Christmas tree. The uncut center portion forms the trunk.
Twist the Branches
Starting at the bottom and working your way up, take each pair of cut strips (one from each side) and twist them together once or twice, creating a rope-like branch effect. Press the ends together to seal. Continue twisting all the way up to the top of the tree. The twisted sections will puff up during baking and look like tree branches. Leave the bottom portion untwisted to serve as the tree trunk.
Arrange on Baking Sheets
Carefully transfer each shaped tree to your prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart because they’ll expand during baking. Gently reshape any branches that got distorted during transfer. The trees should look recognizable even before baking.
Make Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the minced garlic. This garlic butter will brush over the trees before baking, adding incredible flavor and helping them achieve that beautiful golden color. The garlic infuses the butter with aromatic flavor that permeates the entire breadstick.
Brush with Egg Wash
Lightly beat the egg in a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, carefully brush the egg wash over the entire surface of each tree, including all the twisted branches. The egg wash creates that gorgeous golden, shiny finish and helps the decorations stick. Be thorough but gentle so you don’t deflate the dough.
Add Decorations
Now comes the fun, creative part. Decorate each tree like you’re decorating a real Christmas tree. Press small pieces of red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper stars, halved cherry tomatoes, and small basil leaves into the dough to look like ornaments and decorations. You can create patterns or place them randomly. Use a small piece of yellow bell pepper cut into a star shape for the top of each tree. The vegetables will roast along with the breadsticks and add color and flavor.
Final Brush and Cheese
Brush the garlic butter over each tree, being careful not to wash off your decorations. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese lightly over each tree. The parmesan will create a delicious crispy, salty crust during baking.
Bake Until Golden
Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the breadsticks are golden brown and cooked through. The cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the dough should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. The decorative vegetables will be slightly roasted and the whole kitchen will smell incredible.
Cool Slightly
Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the breadsticks cool on the pans for about 5 minutes. This brief cooling period allows them to firm up slightly, making them easier to transfer and handle. They should still be warm when served, just not scorching hot.
Serve Warm
Transfer the Christmas tree breadsticks to a large serving platter arranged in a festive display. Serve them warm with bowls of marinara sauce and extra pesto on the side for dipping. The combination of the garlicky, cheesy breadsticks with tangy marinara is absolutely irresistible. These are best enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven.
Helpful Tips for Success:
1. Room temperature dough is essential for easy shaping and prevents shrinking during baking.
2. Don’t overfill with pesto or cheese or the breadsticks will be soggy and hard to shape.
3. Press decorations firmly into the dough so they don’t fall off during baking.
4. Work quickly when shaping so the dough doesn’t warm up too much and become sticky.
5. The breadsticks can be shaped and decorated ahead, then refrigerated for up to 4 hours before baking.
6. Use kitchen scissors to cut the dough strips for the cleanest, easiest cuts.
7. If dough springs back when rolling, let it rest for 5 minutes and try again.
8. Add cooked crumbled bacon or sausage between layers for a meatier version.
9. Sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts make delicious alternative decorations.
10. Make mini versions using less dough for each tree for bite-sized appetizers.
11. Different colored pestos like red pepper pesto create different colored “trees.”
12. Brush with melted butter immediately after baking for even more flavor.
13. These reheat well in a 300-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes if needed.
14. Get kids involved in decorating, they love making these festive breadsticks.
15. Freeze unbaked breadsticks on a tray, then store in bags and bake from frozen, adding 3 to 5 minutes to baking time.
